Device and method for raising and lowering a roller on an application table with a shielded switch

ABSTRACT

A raising/lowering device for a rollers of a laminator table, wherein the table comprises a table top ( 8 ) with two opposite and parallel sides ( 7 ), a horizontal guide rail ( 6 ) being parallel to and placed at each of said side edges, and a roller ( 2 ), each horizontal guide rail ( 6 ) comprises a raising/lowering device ( 1 ) having a first and a second end, the second end is connected to the horizontal rails ( 6 ), the raising/lowering device ( 1 ) is horizontally moveable along the rail to which it is connected, the first end of the raising/lowering device ( 1 ) comprises, or can be connected to, a non-rotatable or fixed shaft end ( 13 ), and the rollers ( 2 ) is rotatably mounted at its ends in two opposing raising/lowering devices ( 1 ) by means of said shaft ends ( 13 ), the raising/lowering device is further characterized in that it is positioned at least one shielded activating switch on one or both handles and/or on the console tops.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention comprises a device for raising or lowering a role in relation to a laminator table for the application of patterns and/or text to a flat surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Current laminator tables are produced with a traverse under which a roller, for moving over the work area, is mounted. The roller and the traverse are connected to raising/lowering devices on each side of the table. This traverse also serves as a counter for the pressure which the roller shall exert towards the work piece.

This traverse is, however, in the way of access to the work pieces and complicates many of the necessary work tasks.

Such a traverse is primarily used two achieve a rigid construction, where the rollers maintain the parallelism when moved across the work area.

Solutions for laminator tables without such a traverse have recently been described. Such solutions are applicable for laminator tables of restricted widths. However, at larger widths, and longer rollers, the increased torque which is exerted at the mounting of the roller will require a disproportionately large/powerful construction of the raising/lowering devices on each side of the table.

The roller of current laminator tables has a fixed, penetrating shaft which is rotatably connected with the raising/lowering devices on each side of the table.

The mounting of said shaft to the raising/lowering devices in an adequately stable manner is also contributing to necessitate a disproportionately large/powerful construction of said devices.

The problem with current raising/lowering devices is that the controls for raising and lowering of the traverse is a round switch located on top of each end of the traverse. The problem with this is that when one leans over the table during the work process, it is easy to accidentally press the switch.

NO 315014 describes a laminator table which is representative for the known state of the art. The table comprises a roller which is mounted on a traverse which extends across the table. In this solution, the raising/lowering device is in the form of a swivel wheel for a purely mechanical raising and lowering of the rollers.

The problem is that this solution is cumbersome since the wheel takes unnecessary long time to use. Further, a wheel at each end is in the way when you have to lean over the table in connection with the lamination process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, as described in the set of claims, comprises a solution to the problems and drawbacks mentioned above.

The solution comprises a rounded inwardly facing top console on each side of the roller. This makes the work easier and it is easier to access the material surrounding the rollers while providing a more comfortable contact against the body when one leans over the table.

Further the invention comprises a handle located on top of the console that is also facing inward. This makes controlling the rollers and console much easier.

At the end of the handle it is located an activation switch that activates the raising and lowering of the rollers and console. The advantage with placing a switch here is that it prevents accidental activation of the raising/lowering mechanism when working.

In addition, the console top has a sliding track that makes installation and turning of a bracket easy for the user of the table. In other current solutions, these brackets are fixed and only on one side of the roller.

Further the present invention has a device for measuring distances.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an isometric drawing of an embodiment of a laminator table according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 a shows raising/lowering mechanism seen from the side in the raised position.

FIG. 2 b shows raising/lowering mechanism seen from the side in the lowered position.

FIG. 3 shows console seen from the top end with a bracket mounted in the sliding track.

FIG. 4 shows the device for measuring distances.

FIG. 5 A-D shows a cross section of different versions of the console top with an inwardly facing handle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 gives a perspective view of the table. The table has horizontal rails 6 which runs parallel to the longitudinal sides 7 of the table top 8. To these rails 6 it is mounted raising/lowering devices 1. These can be moved horizontally along the parallel rails 6. A roller 2 is mounted between the two the raising/lowering devices 1.

To achieve a precise parallel movement of the rollers, they are connected to the raising/lowering devices 1 by means of a cable/pulley system 3, 5. One end of the wire 3 is connected to an attachment 4 on a first raising/lowering device. The second end of the wire is, through three pulleys 5, attached to an attachment on the other raising/lowering device. Horizontal movement of the first, or second, raising/lowering device will cause a corresponding movement of the corresponding raising/lowering device due to the movement of the wire.

FIGS. 2A and 2B shows a cross-section of the raising/lowering device respectively in raised and lowered condition. On top, it is situated a handle. The handle is in one end, hereinafter referred to as end 1, connected to the console top. The handle is horizontal and is, in end 1, rounded and connected to the console top. At the opposite end, hereinafter referred to as end 2, the handle is not connected to the console top. End 2 points horizontally inward across the table. End 2 has a short side where it is located an activation switch. The activation switch controls the rising and lowering of the rollers. Further it may be similar console top and handles on both ends of the roller.

The activation switch is shielded so it is not triggered unintentionally. The shielding may be that the location of the activation switch prevents accidental activation. Examples on such shielding may be, as described above, that the activation switch is located on the short side of the end 2, or the switch can be located underneath the handle. Alternatively, the switch can be protected by a cover. A further solution is to have a locking switch that locks the activation switch and that must be activated before it is possible to activate the activation switch. Alternatively, it may be in the form of two switches or points that must be activated simultaneously. Yet another alternative is two contact surfaces that must be touched simultaneously.

Underneath the handle the console top is located. The upper end of the console top is rounded in end that is furthest away from the table top. At the opposite end, the end closest to the table top, the rollers are connected. In the console top, it is a device for raising and lowering of the rollers. The raising and lowering is done by a lifting cylinder. The activation switch controls the lifting cylinder. The range of the lifting cylinder is controlled by a vertical bar. The bar is at its top most point connected to the piston of the lifting cylinder. The bar proceeding through a holder in the form of an open cylinder. The holder is connected to the side of the lifting cylinder. Inside the holder it is situated a spring. The bar has a stopper at each end. At its top most point the bar stops against the spring in the cylinder. The spring ensures that the rollers rest in a fixed distance above the table top.

FIG. 3 shows that in the console top it is situated a sliding track. The sliding track is adapted placement of a bracket. In each end of the sliding track is placed an attachment for the bracket. The attachment locks the bracket in place. The bracket can be removed, reversed and inserted into the opposite side of the sliding track.

FIG. 4 shows a distance measuring device. On one side of a console top it is attached a holder. The holder is in the form of a cylinder pointing horizontally out from the console top. The holder extends along the edge of the table. In the holder it is placed a distance measuring device. The measuring device can with advantage be a laser, but also any other method for distance measurement can be used. At the end of the table, in the direction which the cylinder points, it is placed a reflective plate. The reflective plate has a shape that covers the span from the upper to the lower limit of the raising/lowering device.

FIG. 5 A-D shows various configurations of the handle and the console top. In FIG. 5 A the handle has rounded edges. The handle is facing inward and is connected to the console top at its outer edge. The console top is not rounded. FIG. 5 B shows a different design. Here is the handle is rounded at the outer edge, the handle continues down the entire outer edge of the console top. Furthermore, the console top is sloping inward at the top. FIG. 5 C shows a further design of the handle and the console top. Here the handle is attached to the outer sloping edge of the console top. FIG. 5 D shows a narrower console top with a curved handle.

The solutions described above are intended only as examples and there may be many different solutions of curved handles and rounded console tops. 

1. A laminator table comprising a raising/lowering device for a roller, a table top with two opposite and parallel sides, a horizontal guide rail being parallel to and placed at each of said side edges, and a roller, each horizontal guide rail being connected to a raising/lowering device having a first and a second end, the second end being connected to the horizontal rails, the raising/lowering device being horizontally moveable along the rail to which it is connected, the first end of the raising/lowering device being rotatably connected to the roller, the laminator table being characterized in that at least one shielded activating switch is positioned on a handle and/or on a console top of the raising/lowering device.
 2. The laminator table according to claim 1, wherein the console top is an inwardly facing, and an inwardly facing handle is positioned on the console top.
 3. The laminator table according to claim 1, wherein the console top further comprises a track where a bracket or other external module can be placed.
 4. The laminator table according to claim 3, wherein said track is open at both ends so that the bracket or the module can be turned around and placed in the opposite direction.
 5. The laminator table according to claim 1, wherein the console top has a distance measuring device attached to it.
 6. The laminator table according to claim 5, where the distance measuring device is preferably in the form of a laser.
 7. The laminator table according to claim 1, wherein the activation switch controls the lift cylinder that raises and lowers the rollers.
 8. The laminator table according to claim 7, wherein the impact of the lifting cylinder is controlled by a vertical bar which at its top most point is connected to the end of the piston of the lift cylinder.
 9. The laminator table according to claim 8 wherein the rod goes through a holder in the form of an open cylinder, the holder is attached to the side of the lift cylinder.
 10. The laminator table according to claim 9 wherein the holder contains a spring.
 11. The laminator table according to claim 8, wherein the bar has at each end a stopper, in the upper stopper rests against the spring in the cylinder when the raising/lowering device is completely down, and the spring ensures that the rollers rests in a fixed distance above the table top. 